School supervisor arrested on 25 molestation counts

KEARNY MESA  A 49-year-old supervisor at a nonprofit academy for troubled youths in Kearny Mesa has been arrested on 25 counts of child molestation.

Kettrell Berry, who was a supervisor at the San Diego Center for Children for nine years until being fired a couple weeks ago, was taken into custody by San Diego police Friday afternoon following a lengthy investigation.

He is being held on $1.12 million in bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in San Diego Superior Court Tuesday.

David McCaslin, chief executive officer of the small school, said the academy “is devastated by the apparent betrayal of trust.”

McCaslin said the school was made aware of an investigation some time ago and has cooperated fully with investigators. Berry was fired on April 19 for “violations of organizational policies,” he said.

McCaslin said there is only a limited amount of information he can release until he speaks with police, but did say all the charges appear to concern contact Berry had with one female student.

According to the Sheriff’s Department jail booking log, Berry was booked on various child molestation charges including lewd and lascivious acts with a 14-or 15-year-old, oral copulation with a person under 16, and 20 charges of sex with a foreign object on a person under 16.

The San Diego Center for Children has about 70 students at it's main campus on Armstrong Street next to Kearny Mesa Park.

According to its website, “the center is a leader in providing an array of mental health and academic services.”